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126000 flocked to IIT Bombay for Mood Indigo – Revisiting Competitions

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Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) organized their annual festival, Mood Indigo from 26th December to 29th December 2014. With their annual theme ‘Vintage’ this time, the whole campus was decorated with vinyl records, vintage cars, radios and retro glasses.

96 hours on campus implied star performances ranging from Adnan Sami to famous bollywood duo Vishal-Shekhar, a Sunburn concert and appearances from who’s who of bollywood like Ayushman Khurana and Raju Srivastav.

Competitions on the other hand mustered a huge participation. Here is the list of the competitive events at Mood Indigo:

Music

Mantra, the Hindi battle of bands hosted its elims on the 1st day and finals on the last day. Top three bands opened for Vishal-Shekhar in an open theatre. Finals of Beat boxing were held on the 4th day.

[caption id="attachment_28454" align="aligncenter" width="960"]Elims round of Mantra at Mood Indigo Elims round of Mantra at Mood Indigo[/caption]

The finale of famous Hindi solo competition, MI Idol whose elims were held in Chandigarh, Delhi among other cities was held on 4th day of the fest in which the finalists performed before the final pro nite.

Other competitions included Taal Mel,an instrument duet competition, Singing the Indigos, English solo competition and String Theory, the western acoustic battle of bands.

Dance

Indigo Saga, the choreography competition of Mood-I saw almost all finalists from Delhi University. The finals were held on the midnight of 3rd day. Some of the participating colleges were Hans Raj College, Kamla Nehru College and Lady Shri Ram College for Women.

B4Battleground, the step up kind of face off was held in a parking lot in which at a time two teams battled it out with impressive dance moves and wittiness.

Can you Duet was a duet competition in which a pair performed on any one dance style of their choice like salsa, tango etc. The sheer chemistry between the couples and mesmerizing lifts set the mood for Day 2.

[caption id="attachment_28451" align="aligncenter" width="960"]'Can you Duet' competition ‘Can you Duet’ competition[/caption]

Mood I also witnessed contests like Solo Classical Dance Competition, Nrityangan, Folk It, a group folk dance competition and a Bollywood dance competition Desi Beats.

Drama

Aagaaz, the street play competition saw participants from all across India with teams from Pune, Mumbai, Punjab and Delhi. The finals were held on the 3rd day with elims on the 2nd day. Stage play competition was also organized.

Other events were The chosen one, a solo acting competition, Curtain Raiser, an exciting contest in which the participant was given a situation and he/she had to improvise on the spot.

[caption id="attachment_28452" align="aligncenter" width="960"]Aagaaz, the street play competition Aagaaz, the street play competition[/caption]

Fashion

A fashion show, Vogue was held on the first day with two rounds. In the first round the participating team was asked to use feathers as their main prop whereas in the second round the teams were judged on how well they were accessorized. The event ended with a professional fashion show organized by Myntra, the official sponsor for this event.

She’s got the look was a beauty pageant competition that was judged by Ms. Gurleen Grewal, Miss Diva International 2013. It had three rounds with final round as a Q/A where the judge asked questions to the final 5. A NIFT- Bombay student won the competition which was witnessed by a jam packed convocation hall.

[caption id="attachment_28453" align="aligncenter" width="640"]Fashion Show at IIT Bombay Fashion Show at IIT Bombay[/caption]

Food Fest

Mood I for the first time organized this one of a kind food festival which hosted famous food chefs like Sandeep Pandey, Ajay Chopra and Dhaval Ajmera. Various cooking workshops on waffles, mocktails, were also organized along with a cheese appreciation and tasting. The main highlight of this fest was a cooking session with Chef Vikas Khanna, an owner of a Michelin starred restaurant. He talked about his new cook book and the latest season of Master-Chef. [caption id="attachment_28450" align="aligncenter" width="960"]Chef Vikas Khanna at Food Fest, Mood Indigo Chef Vikas Khanna at Food Fest, Mood Indigo[/caption]

Miscellaneous

A lot of quiz competitions were held on categories like entertainment, sports and general throughout this 4 day fest. MI Poetry Slam was held on the final day where contestants presented poems on their experiences in Mood Indigo, the weird language that we call English and life in general. A spelling competition, Spell-Nazi saw the spelling bees among us come to life.

Featured Image – TerpsiChorean (Hans Raj’s Choreography Society)

Picture Credits: Chirag Sharma, Mehr Gill and Ankit Kumar Meena

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DUB News

Enactus CVS organises fundraiser for underprivileged women

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Under Project Katran, Enactus – College of Vocational Studies’ maiden project, the society set up a stall at the annual fete of Bal Bharti Public School, Pitampura, on Christmas to sell cloth bags made by underprivileged women. Under the project, vocational training (stitching course) is provided to women to bridge the gap between ‘unskilled’ and ‘skilled’.

The purpose of the stall, according to organisers, was raising funds to fulfill the basic requirements of these women. The idea behind the project is to promote women entrepreneurship by providing required vocational training and encouraging them to work. Activities like collection drives for raw material like old clothes and partnerships with organisations such as the UNHCR are being undertaken under the umbrella project.

The stall, decked with bags and kurtis for sale, collected Rs.23,000 in sale revenues.

Ms. Meenu Goswami, Principal of BBPS, Pitampura, appreciated the effort by noting, “It’s always great to work with students who extend beyond themselves”. The president of Enactus CVS feels that owing to this opportunity, the team was able to assess its potential and it fueled its ‘passion for transforming lives, thereby contributing a little towards a sustainable society’.

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DUB News

Saachi Soni scales new high, climbs 10 Aussie peaks

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“Mountaineering is a unique kind of a sport wherein no one is watching you nor cheering for you. It is the journey that makes it so unique. The achievement is inexpressible when you’re actually at the top and immersed in nature, along with the glorious tricolor unfolded,” says Saachi Soni.

Since the age of 7, this fearless young woman has been in love with mountains. Saachi Soni is a student of Bachelors in Mass Media at IP College, University of Delhi. She recently went for the Reliance and Deuters sponsored Aussie 10 Peaks Mt. summit and became the Youngest Indian Person to expedite 75-80 KM in only 2.5 days! The celebration for this climb was done in quite a unique way. She went for Sky Diving from 17000 ft. in Sydney. She dedicates this achievement to the serene environment that supported her throughout  her journey and also towards women empowerment. When asked for more details, she said that usually women are looked down upon in India for such a Herculean sport.

When asked what was the first thing she wanted as soon as she was back from the top, the answer was humorously simple – A hot shower! She even said in Australia people are sincerely concerned about their flora and fauna. This was one thing that she wished that should be present in India too.

 

The Deputy High Commissioner of India in Australia felicitated her immediately after her climb. Recently, the HRD minister, Ms. Smriti Irani, invited her and congratulated her on her remarkable achievement.

Already an accomplished climber of the daring Mt. Everest, Saaachi Soni is looking forward for the Winter Training Program at Sikkim. Lastly, she mentions that her principal, Dr. Babli Moitra Saraf and a professor from English Dept., Dr. Vineeta Sinha have always supported her to accomplish all her climbs.

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Campus Central

Delhi University in 2014: Major reforms, policies and rollbacks

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Delhi University in the year of 2014 has had its share of controversies, confusions and unpopular decisions. While a few policies were altered, others were taken down for welfare of students or just to avoid overdone criticism.  A few changes also came across as positive and were welcomed by various related bodies across the University. Political parties, students, and teachers were all affected by these alterations in someway or the other.

As we enter the year of 2015, we list all that changed in Delhi University in the past year.

April 2014: University of Delhi rejected reservation of 85% seats for Delhi domicile students

The University of Delhi rejected the proposal of Delhi government for the reservation of 85% seats for the Delhi domicile students in April 2014. The demand was in all 12 colleges wholly funded by state government and other 16 colleges receiving 5% of its fund. These colleges included Maharaja Agrasen College, Shaheed Rajguru College, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Keshav Mahavidyalaya and Deen Dayal Upadhayay College.

However, students from Delhi met Dr. Harshwardhan inn June 2014 to demand quota for Delhi students but there were no results recorded.

Read full article here.

May 2014: Delhi University allowed 5 % sports quota in post graduate courses

In an attempt to increase sports participation at higher studies level, Delhi University’s Academic Council(AC) had introduced five percent quota under sports category this year for postgraduate admissions. The reservation was imposed on all faculties barring medicine, engineering, technology and management studies.

Students applying under sports category were supposed to sit for the entrance examination but the admission under this category was determined by trial and interview.

Read full article here.

June 2014: Roll Back of Four-Year Undergraduate Programme

The programme that supported a four-year course study for undergraduates had amassed a lot of criticism since its inception. While protests to both roll back and not roll back FYUP continued in the University in April-June, the UGC has also appealed to the University of Delhi for review of FYUP on the basis of it being illegally introduced.

UGC claimed that the new course violates the National Policy on Education’s section on National System of Education that states for a 10+2+3 educational structure all over the country. Also, the University required the Visitor’s approval according to the Delhi University Act, the Visitor of all central universities, being the President of India. After a huge number of protests by students, teachers and political parties, FYUP was rolled back in June 2014.

Read full article. Demands | Rollback

[caption id="attachment_28418" align="aligncenter" width="600"]FYUP FYUP[/caption]

June 2014: BMS exam scrapped, admissions took place for BBS, BBE and BFIA courses

In a major development this year, Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) was officially scrapped off. Instead, students were admitted to the three-year BBS, BBE and BFIA courses as was usual before FYUP was introduced. This will now be followed for the years to come. For the current session, results of BMS Entrance Exam were considered valid and were given 50% weightage. The remaining 50% were based on the results of board exams.

Read full article here.

August 2014: Transgender students recognized as third gender

After recognition of transgenders as a third gender by the Supreme Court in April 2014, Delhi University’s application form from this year gave space to the third gender. University had finally allowed transgender applicants to enroll in post graduate courses in the ongoing session.

Due to the FYUP debate this year, this proposed change couldn’t be implemented for the undergraduate courses but the same will be done next year for the session of 2015-16. Teacher recruitment forms also included the third gender category.

Read full article here.

[caption id="attachment_28420" align="aligncenter" width="620"]Transgender students recognized in DU Transgender students recognized in DU[/caption]

September 2014: Ad Hoc teaching staff exceeded regular teachers in Delhi University

Four months after the FYUP ‘miscarriage’ where ad-hoc teachers were left in jeopardy, Delhi University witnessed ad-hoc teaching staff outnumbering the regular teachers in September 2014. 5000 ‘temporary’ teachers were tagged as ‘permanently’ ad-hoc in the University. UGC norms however, only validate the appointment of ad hoc teachers in the time of emergency and also limits the proportion of these teachers at 10% of the total.

Read full article here.

[caption id="attachment_28415" align="aligncenter" width="620"]Teachers protesting for the rights of ad-hocs Teachers protesting for the rights of ad-hocs[/caption]

October 2014: Delhi University introduced revaluation again and allowed readmission

Following ABVP’s protest in October 2014, Delhi University promised to restart the system of revaluation in the University. According to the notification, the sheets were now to be checked by a single examiner. The students who had failed in their 1st year under the FYUP were allowed to apply for readmission to 1st year till the 29th of October, 2014.

Read full article here.

[caption id="attachment_28416" align="aligncenter" width="900"]ABVP's dharna to bring back revaluation and readmission ABVP’s dharna to bring back revaluation and readmission[/caption]

October 2014: Environmental Studies’ made mandatory in Delhi University

University Grants Commission this year made it mandatory for students enrolled in the undergraduate courses at Delhi University, to take up the course in Environmental Studies in their first or second semester. The qualifying course introduced had to consist of 100 marks as per the scheme notified for the three-year undergraduate programme, of which 25 per cent weightage had to be given to fieldwork.

Read full article here.

All images used have been taken from the articles mentioned in the post. Credits for the same have been mentioned in the original article.

Iresh Gupta [email protected]

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DUB Speak

New Year… New Beginnings?

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Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Goodbye 2019 is on everyone’s lips. And as for 2020? It’s the year of ‘new beginnings and new hopes’- the time when you’re planning to chuck old habits away and transform yourself into someone better, isn’t it?

Here we are, waving goodbye to the bygone year, hoping 2020 would change our lives… hoping 2020 will bring in something so extravagant that its exuberance will engulf all sorrows of the years gone by. But the funny part is that we hoped for something similar just 52 weeks back. Did all that we hoped for in 2019 happen? For some lucky ones, it did. For others (including the author), nah, not so much! So does this mean that expecting new life-changing beginnings is nothing but a false hope? I would be called a hard-core pessimist if I said that the whole momentum attached with New Year- New You nothing more than a mere delusion.

Let’s look at it this way, it’s ‘New’ Year. When you get something new, your life starts a whole different story with it. You get a whole new year… imagine what stories you could write with it! Is 1st January much different from 31st December? It is! Reason? I’ll give you two. One, you’re given fresh 365 days to make the most of. There couldn’t be a better day to begin your favourite chapter of your book of life. Two, there’s a whole mystery ahead of you to unravel. Isn’t that exciting? You could make the most of it and have the memories that last a lifetime. There’s a popular joke attached to how people fail to keep up to their own New Year resolutions. But their value still doesn’t diminish, one still makes promises to oneself for the coming year. The reason is simple- even if we don’t follow those promises religiously (or don’t follow them at all, in most cases), the whole idea of making yourself someone you’ve always wanted to be has an enigma attached to it. The picture of you losing 10 pounds in 6 months, giving up smoking, going on a couple of vacations with your family, or even writing a book gives you thrill and joy. And that emotion is priceless.

So next time, when you fail to keep up with your resolutions, remember that there are a billion people sailing with you on the same ship. At least you tried. And even if you didn’t, there are a plenty of New Years yet to come. Yes, New Year’s Eve is a cliché. Yes, New Year’s Eve is over-rated. But it does promise you new beginnings- it does give you a fresh page to start writing a new story. So welcome the New Year with a new high (pun unintended)… because you never know what it may hold in store for you.

 

Arushi Pathak

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